Reviewed by Emily Crombie
Educating Rita opened last night (24 February 2020) at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow with an outstanding performance from Stephen Tompkinson as Frank and Jessica Johnson as Rita.
Educating Rita is a two person play written by Willy Russell and directed by Max Roberts. Russell has also written the musical hit Blood Brothers and the play Shirley Valentine. In Educating Rita, Russell uses his hairdressing background and his personal challenges in getting an education as inspiration. It looks at the obstacles of society and expectation and the reality and pressures of being a mature student.
Having premiered in London in 1980 starring Mark Kingston and Julie Walters, this tour celebrates Educating Rita’s 40th year, testament to the fact it is still relevant and topical today. It became an award-winning film in 1983 with Michael Caine and Julie Walters directed by Lewis Gilbert, this also introduced other characters that are merely mentioned within the play such as Julia, Frank’s partner and Denny, Rita’s Husband.
The play is set entirely in Frank’s University office, but Educating Rita is fast moving with many stage exits/entrances (and costume changes!) for Johnson.
Rita is a Liverpudlian hairdresser who wants more from life. Feeling uneducated and on the periphery of society, Rita enrols on an English Literature course with the Open University in her quest for knowledge. Frank is dipping his toe for the first time into Open University work to fund his drinking lifestyle, is assigned Rita.
Through the play Rita develops a true understanding and passion for literature and develops as a person and embraces the student lifestyle as in contrast, Frank becomes more and more disillusioned with life and continues to drink the point he is sent on a sabbatical to Australia.
Johnson gives as raw and captivating portrayal of Rita with a faultless scouse accent complemented by Stephen Tompkinson’s emotional and charismatic performance.
Stephen Tompkinson is a household name having many theatre and television credits to his name including Drop the Dead Donkey, Ballykissangel and Wild at Heart while Jessica Johnson hit our TV screens in Coronation Street, Cuckoo and Wire in the Blood and was also in the films Girl and School for Seduction.
The Theatre Royal is located on Hope Street within Glasgow’s city centre. The theatre is modern with a beautiful foyer which is worth making time to enjoy and food and drink are available from Vanilla Black Café. We sat in row B of the Dress Circle where visibility was excellent, but the tiering allows excellent viewing generally. The theatre is comfortable and well equipped with lifts for access. The staff were helpful and very welcoming.
I attended with my daughter who was probably a little on the young side – she claimed not to get all the jokes although I am pretty sure she understood more than she let on! I would personally say twelve years plus would be ideal.
The show is two hours twenty minutes long with a twenty minute interval and runs at Theatre Royal until Saturday 29th February.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £13 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).
Educating Rita is at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow from 24-29 February 2020, for more information or to book tickets visit www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-glasgow or call the box office on 0844 871 7647.
Theatre Royal, 282 Hope Street, Glasgow, G2 3QA | 0844 871 7647
